Manifolding



Jan. 16, 1934. w. G 'BORCHERS 1,944,118

MANIFOLDI NG Filed March 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l :1 51 I v INVENTO NI. '1 N 53 ATTOR Jan. 16, 1934. w. G. BORCHERS MANIFOLDI NG Filed March12, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Autographic Register Company, 'Hoboken,

N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application March 12, 1932. Serial No.598,318 16 Claims. (01. 282-21) This invention relates to manifolding,and more particularly, to a manifolding register especially adapted foruse with a zigzag folded paper supply and provided with means foraligning and tensioning the strips.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of means forimparting to the advancing strips individual tension and, at the sametime,

separating the strips and alsov producing retrograde motion of thestrips for aligning purposes at the end of the feeding operation.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a feeding devicewhich releases the strips at the end of the feeding operation, and atsubstantially the same time causes the aligning pins to enterform-registering apertures in the strips, so that when given retrogrademotion the leading edges of the apertures will be aligned against thefront ends of the pins.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the form of this inventionwhich is at present preferred- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a manifolding register, showing the present invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with overlying portions of the machineremoved to show the operating parts.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the register,showing the positions of the parts during the feeding operation.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view, showing the relation between theapertured portion of the worksheet strip and the pin which exists at thepoint of feed shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 3, but showing the position of the parts atthe other end of the feeding operation and before the strips are alignedby retrograde movement.

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 4, but showing the relation between the stripand the pin existing in Fi 5.

Fig. '7 is a view like Figs. 3 and 5, but-showing the positions of theparts while retrograde impetus is being given to the strips to align theleading edges of the apertures against the front ends of the pins. 7

Fig. 8 is a View like Figs. 4 and 6, but showing the conditions existingin Fig. "I. i

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the separating, tensioning, andretrograde movement-producing device of the present invention.

The register shown in the accompanying drawings comprises side plates 10between which is supported a bottom 11 carrying a tray 12 for a pile 13of zigzag folded worksheet strips 14 divided into form-lengths bytransversely extending lines of perforations 15 (see Fig. 6) occurringat the folds 16.

The strips are led from the tray 12 upwardly and forwardly so that theywill pass over and rest upon a platen 17 having a cover or marginalframe 18 provided with an opening through which 55 writing operationsmay be performed on the strips 14. At the platen the strips 14 areinterleaved with carbon strips 19 so that writing on the upper stripwill be reproduced on the lower strip. The carbon strips 19 are suppliedfrom a roll adapted to be supported in a box 20 at the side of themachine.

The strips 14 are advanced form-lengths by a feeding mechanism locatedat the forward end of the platen 17. This feeding mechanism com prises apressure roller 21 having a shaft 22.

It also comprises a pair of feeding disks 23 mounted on a shaft 24journalled in the side plates 10 and having beyond one of the sideplates a handle 25 by means of which the shaft may be ro- 3o tated.

The feeding mechanism is of the mutilated roller type having aperipheral feeding surface 26 substantially equal to the length of theforms on the strips-4. e. equal to the length of the 35 strip betweenlines of perforations 15-and each time the handle is given one turn froma controlling stop 27, the feeding surface 26 advances the strips tocarry them beyond the tear-01f knife 28 and to position to be grasped bythe operator and turn along said knife. As a matter of fact. however,the feeding surface 26 of the disk 23 is just slightly longer than thelength of the form so that the strips 14 will give a slight over-feed.

Each form in each strip is provided with a pair of form-registeringapertures 29 having a definite and fixed relation to the line ofseverance l5 and located adjacent thereto. These apertures are providedfor the purpose of permitting aligning pins 30 to pass through thestrips. The aligning pins are each mounted on a slide 31 carried by'aframe 32 secured to the side plates 10 by screws 33 and eachpin-carrying slide is provided with a spring 34 tending to move theslide and pin carried thereby upwardly across the path of the strips 14.During the writing operation, that is during the time that the handle 25is engaged by the stop 27, the pins 30' are located in the apertures 29.

When it is desired to-feed the strips 14, however, the pins 30 arewithdrawn concurrently with the movement of the feeding surface 26 onthe locating disk 23 to position to press the strips against thepressure roller 21. This is accomplished by providing the slide 31 witha follower 35 riding on a cam 36 secured to the disk 26-the cam having arise 37 which causes the pins to be depressed while the leading edge 38of the feeding surface 26 approaches the pressure roller and strips 14.The cam 36 has a dwell 39 which holds its associated pins 30 depressedduring the advancing movements of the strips 14.

When the end 40 of the feeding surface 26 passes from under the strips14, however, a drop 41 on the cam permits the follower 35 on the pinslide 31 to rise and cause the pin to enter the apertures 29 which, bythat time, have moved to a position overlying the pin.

According to the present invention in its broader aspects, the pin 30could exactly fit the apertures 29, in which event no further movementof the paper would be permitted. This, however, would require thataligning relative movement between the several strips 14 would have tobe effected by the pin and as a result of its tapered form. In pratice,it has been found that such alignment is not effective unless the pinhave a movement in the direction of travel of the paper. It has thefurther disadvantage that the pin would have to be completely withdrawnfrom the aperture before positive engagement between the feeding surface26 and the pressure roller 21, during which time relative shiftingmovement between the paper strips 14 might occur.

To avoid this, the pins 30 are made substantially smaller in diameterthan the diameter of the apertures, and provision is made for applyingretrograde motion to the paper strips to align them.

In the use of zigzag folded worksheet strips 14 having lines ofperforations coincident with the folds, it has been found that thefibres projecting from the perforations sometimes nest with each otherand cause the rear edges of the transversely extending carbon sheets tobe torn.

To avoid this, it has been proposed heretofore to provide devices at theintroductory side of the platen- 17 for physically separating the stripsas they approach the platen. These separating devices also tend toflatten-out the folds somewhat, thereby permitting the strips to passbetween the carbon sheets with less resistance.

This is accomplished by the present invention by providing a bar 42 atthe introductory side of the platen over which the lower strip 14passes. Above this there is provided a separator in the form of a metalplate 43 which separates the lower strip 14 from the intermediate strip14. Above this is another metal plate 14 which separates theintermediate strip from the upper strip, and above this is still anothermetal plate 45 which bears down on the upper strip 14 and by pressingthem together with the intervening plates 43 and 44 against thetransverse member 42 applies a predetermined tension to the strips intheir advancing movements. This tension is obtained by means of a spring46 resting on the upper plate 45.

To produce more friction between the strips 14 and the plates 43-44-45,they, as well as the transverse member 42, are provided with clothstrips 47.

According to the present invention, these sepa- 14 so as to align thefront edges of the apertures 29 against the front surface of the pins30. To do this, the transverse member 42, plates 43-44-45 and spring 46are mounted on a frame 48 sliding within an opening 49 on a frame 50which supports the platen. The frame 48 is normally held in its rearmostposition where it engages the rear edge of the opening 49 by means ofsprings 51. When the strips are being advanced, as in Fig. 3, however,the friction between the separating mechanism, including the transversemember 42 and plates 43-44-45, is great enough to cause the frame 48 toadvance with them until the frame strikes the front edge 52 of theopening 49 as shown in Fig. 3. The continued advancement of the stripsunder the pull imparted by the pressure roller 21 and the feedingsurface 26 is sufiicient to maintain this forward advanced position ofthe frame 48. Hence, as shown in Fig. 5, even at the end of the feedingoperation, the frame 48 is still in its forward position while the pins30 have entered the apertures 29.

With the release of the paper strips 14 from the feeding surface 26,however, the frame 48 is pulled rearwardly by its springs 51, therebyimparting to the strips 14 a tendency toward retrograde motion. Thismotion, however, is limited by the leading edges of the apertures 29engaging the forward surface of the pins, as shown in Fig. 8. After thisis accomplished, the frame 48, having begun to move, continues whilestill drawing the strips 14 taut on the platen until the frame engagesthe rear margin of the opening 49, asl 'shown in Fig. 7.

In moving rearwardly, it should be noted that the frame 48 does notimpart the tendencies toward retrograde motion to the pile of strips 14as a whole, but, because the strips are individually gripped between thecross member 42 and the plates 43-44-45, the back-drag is appliedindividually to each strip. Accordingly, each strip is moved to positionwhere the leading edge of its holes are engaged by the front faces ofthe pins and accurate and true alignment of the strips on the platen isproduced.

In order to facilitate loading of the register, the springs 46 arepivoted on screws or studs 53 in a transverse member 54 of the frame 48,so that they may be swung out of the way as shown in dot-and-dash linesin Fig. 2, and permit the easy insertion of the leading edges of thestrips 14 between the plates 43-44-45 after the platen frame 50 has beenswung up as usual about its pivot 55.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is:-

1. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; strip-advancing meansadapted to release the strips for aligning operations; and meansincluding a plurality of superposed sirip-separating and tensioningplates in advance of said supply compartment for producing retrogrademovement of the strips when released by said advancing means.

2. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; strip-advancing meansadapted to release the strips for aligning operations; a plurality ofsuperposed strip-separating and tensioning plates at the platen; and a'movable carrier common to all of said plates for producing retrogrademovement of the strips when released by said advancing means.

3. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; strip-advancing meansadapted to release the strips for aligning operations; a plurality ofseparators located between the supply compartment and the platen andbetween which the several superposed strips pass; means cooperating withsaid separators for individually tensloning the several strips; and

means acting on said separators and tensioning 7 when the advancingmeans ceases to feed the means for producing retrograde movement of thes'rips when released bysaid advancing means.

4. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposedworksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; strip-advancing meansadapted to release the strips for aligning operations, said stripshaving aligning apertures; aligning pins adapted to en'er said apertureswhen said advancing means releases the strips; a plurality of superposedstrip-separating and tensioning plates in advance of said supplycompartment for producing retrograde movement of the strips (0 cause theleading edges of the apertures of the strips to align against said pinswhen said advancing means releases said strips.

5. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; strip-advancing meansadapted to release the strips for aligning operations, said stripshaving aligning apertures; aligning pins adapted to enter said apertureswhen said advancing means releases the strips; and means at the platenincluding a plurality of pivotally mounied strip-separating andtensioning plates for producing retrograde movement of the strips tocause the leading edges of said apertures to align against the pins whenthe strips are released by said advancing means.

6. In mechanism for feeding a plurality of superposed s'rips of fabric,the combination with a platen over which said strips are intended to befed and to be worked upon; means located at one side of said platen foradvancing said strips thereover; a member at the other side of theplaten; means individual to each of a plurality of fabric strips forpressing it yieldingly toward said member to retard its advancementthereover; a frame on which said means and said member are mounted; andmeans for guiding said frame for movement toward and from the pla en' ina direction longitudinally thereof.

'7. In mechanism for feeding a plurality of superposed strips of fabric,the combination with a platen over which said strips are intended to befed and to be worked upon; means located at one side of said platen foradvancing said strips thereover; a member at the other side of theplaten; means individual to each of a plurality of fabric strips forpressing it yieldingly toward said member to retard i' s advancementthere- 'over; a frame on which said means and said member are mounted;means for guiding said frame for movement toward and from the platen ina direction longitudinally thereof; and means tending to move said frameaway from the platen.

8. In mechanism for feeding a plurality of superposed strips of fabric,the combination with a platen over which said strips are intended to befed and to be worked upon; means located at one side of said platen foradvancing said strips thereover; a member at the other side of theplaten; means individual to each of a plurality of fabric strips forpressing it yieldingly toward said member to retard its advancementthereover; a frame on which said means and said member are mounted;means for guiding said frame for movement toward and from the pla en ina direction longitudinally thereof, said frame with the member andindividual retarding means being adapted to move toward the platen underthe influence of the fabric strips when fed by said advancing means; andmeans for moving said frame and individual retarding means carriedthereby away from the platen and tending to impart retrograde motion tothe fabric strips same.

9. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile ofworksheets is fed from a supply compartment; means for guiding theworksheets from said supply compartment to said platen comprising aframe, rods on the frame, and cloth strips on the rods and interposed between the worksheets of the pile; and means for guiding said frame formovement to and from the platen in a direction longitudinally thereof.

10. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile ofworksheets is fed from a supply compartment; means'for guiding theworksheets from said supply compartment to said platen comprising aframe, rods on the frame, and cloth strips on the rods and interposedbetween the worksheets of the pile; means for guiding said frame formovement to and from the platen in a direction longitudinally thereof;and means for normally pulling said frame away from the platen.

11. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile ofworksheets is fed from a supply compartment; means for guiding theworksheets from said supply compartment to said 115 platen comprising aframe, rods on the frame, and cloth strips on the rods and interposedbetween the worksheetsof the pile; springs carried by said frame forpressing said worksheets and cloth strips together; means for guidingsaid 126 frame for movement to and from the platen in a directionlongitudinally thereof; and means for normally pulling said frame awayfrom the platen.

12. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced 125 from a supply compartment; means for advancingsaid worksheet strips form-lengths comprising rollers having anoperating peripheral surface substantially equal to one form-length, anda cooperating pressure roller, the feeding rollers being cut away torelease the strips from engagement with the pressure roller and feedingdisks, said worksheet strips having apertures at formlength intervals;pins adapted to enter said apertures; and means adapted to hold saidpins out of 135 engagement with said-strips until the latter arereleased from engagement with said feeding disks and pressure roller.

13. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced 140 from a supply compartment; means for advancingsaid worksheet stripsform-lengths comprising rollers having an operatingperipheral surface substantially equal to one form-length, and acooperating pressure roller, the feeding rollers being cut away torelease the strips from engagement with the pressure roller and feedingdisks, said worksheet strips having apertures at form-length intervals;pins adapted to enter said apertures; a cam connected to said feedingdisks;

and a follower connected to said pins adapted to hold said pins out ofengagement with said strips until the latter are released fromengagement with said feeding disks and pressure roller.

14. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; means for advancing saidworksheet strips form-lengths comprising rollers having an operatingperipheral surface substantially equal to one form-length, and acooperating pressure roller, the feeding rollers being cut away torelease the strips from engage-' ment with the pressure roller andfeeding disks, said worksheet strips having apertures at formlengthintervals; pins adapted to enter said apertures; means adapted to holdsaid pins out of engagement with said strips until the latter arereleased from engagement with said feeding disks and pressure roller;and means for causing the strips to have retrograde movement when theadvancing means thereof ceases and when the pins enter said apertures toalign the leading edges of the apertures against the pins.

15. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; means for advancing saidworksheet strips form-lengths comprising rollers having an operatingperipheral surface substantially equal to one form-length, and acooperating pressure roller, the feeding rollers being cut away torelease the strips from engagement with the pressure roller and feedingdisks, said worksheet strips having apertures at formlength intervals;pins adapted to enter said apertures; means adapted to hold said pinsout of engagement with said strips until the latter are released fromengagement with said feeding disks and pressure roller; and meanslocated between the supply compartment and the platen for causing thestrips to have retrograde movement when the advancing means thereofceases and when the pins enter said apertures to align the leading edgesof the apertures against the pins.

16. In a manifolding machine, a platen over which superposed worksheetstrips are advanced from a supply compartment; means for advancing saidworksheet strips form-lengths comprising rollers having an operatingperipheral surface substantially equal to one form-length, and acooperating pressure roller, the feeding rollers being cut away torelease the strips from engagement with the pressure roller and feedingdisks, said worksheet strips having apertures at form-length intervals;pins adapted to enter said apertures; a slide supporting said pins andmounted for reciprocatory travel at substantially a right angle to thestrips; and means adapted to reciprocate said slide and thereby holdsaid pins out of engagement with said strips until the latter arereleased from engagement with said feeding disks and pressure roller.

WILLIAM G. BORCHERS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 944,118.

January 16, 1934.

WILLIAM G. BORCHERS.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specif abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page insert thesemicolon and words and that the said Letters Patent should be read 4,after the syllable "partment" supporting said superposed plates;

with this correction therein that the same may con in the Patent Office.

ication of the 3, line 26, claim and a slide form to the record of thecase Signed and sealed this 6th day of March, A. D. [934.

(Seal) F. M. Hopkins Acting Commissioner of Patents.

